Cheaper than the Gap!

If you like to knit socks, or use sock yarn, or wish to encourage others to knit you socks, go check out the Little Knits sock yarn sale. You can get enough sock yarn to make a pair of superwash wool socks with a clever little pattern for less than $7. Can't beat that with a stick.

I have a bunch of sock yarn, but I'm still thinking of ordering some of the more "manly" color schemes for Dad and Uncle socks for Christmas time and future knitting.

Just figured that I'd put this PSA out there for any knitters that happen on by.

I don't get it

I frequently peruse the job listings on Craigslist. There are many jobs that list "Blueprint reading a plus" or "must be able to read blueprints". These are not jobs for nursing or phone answering (where the skill is not necessary, obviously), but instead, they are jobs for working on a construction site or as an estimator or a project manager. Who can't read a blueprint and still has any idea what they are making? A blueprint is a picture, to scale, with some ridiculously obvious and logical conventions, and perhaps some notes, of the thing you are trying to make.

Did you see that phrase? the thing you are trying to make. How would you even think that you could do that job if you couldn't read a drawing? And if you can read (really, that's a necessary job for pretty much every job, and how did you get to a CraigsList posting without that very basic skill?) and figure out how to make the thing, and use a measuring device, how could you not be able to read a blueprint?

I understand that sometimes you have crappy drawings to work with, or they don't all match up, and there is some skill in analyzing a drawing, but I don't really see how this is even something you would put in a job listing or on your resume. I don't write "can do math through pre-calculus" or "mastered high school algebra" on my resume, nor do I add "successfully uses a scale rule on a daily basis" or "familiar with Cartesian plane geometry". That is assumed. Kind of like how you figure that I can read and write to the level that is demonstrated with my resume and cover letter.

For those of you out there in the construction field, or who write such ads, what's up with even mentioning blueprint reading?

Well, that's common sense

If you feed a 2yo lunch later than usual, she won't want to eat because it is time for her nap and she is sleepy. So she'll just eat the banana and some of the hotdogs, and then be done. I barely got her into her bed before she was asleep. Oh, but she is darn cute.

When I'm feeling blue

This is my favorite flickr! search these days just for general happiness.

*****************************

A small list, instead of ellipses: (warning to the boys, I was observing stuff in the drugstore while waiting for a prescription last night)

• What are "Sport" tampons and why does anyone need them? Do they wick the sweat out of your hoohah? Are they more aerodynamic? Can you jump higher and run faster?
  
• How did the product testing work to end up with "mistable" personal lubricant?
• Who cares if something is manly or not if you like it?
  
• What would happen if you use the Anti-Poof Shampoo and Conditioner and the Anti-Flat styling creme? Would it be like you did nothing at all?
• If I don't knit socks (see: too loose of gauge for everything) why am I so drawn to sock yarn?
• Does Meg Swansen have an unmarried son or grandson or nephew? I want to be related to that family. (can you tell I've been re-reading EZ books this weekend?)
  

All in one Clearance Sale

I'm not as cool as Sarah Louise, so I didn't tweak the text at all, but look, my brain is blue! I like the color blue.

Your Brain is Blue

Of all the brain types, yours is the most mellow. You tend to be in a meditative state most of the time. You don't try to think away your troubles. Your thoughts are realistic, fresh, and honest. You truly see things as how they are. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about your friends, your surroundings, and your life.

What Color Is Your Brain?

You Are a Mac

You are creative, stylish, and super trendy. You demand the best - even if it costs an arm and a leg.

Are You a Mac or a PC?

You've Changed 48% in 10 Years

You've done a good job changing with the times, but deep down, you're still the same person. You're clothes, job, and friends may have changed some - but it hasn't changed you.

How Much Have You Changed in 10 Years?

You Communicate With Your Body

This isn't as bad as it sounds, it just means that you're a "touchy-feely" person. You need a lot of affection in your life. And for you, this means both giving and receiving little touches. Warm hearted, you bond with people easily. In fact, you often feel a little sad when you're not in the company of others. A little moody, you tend to be controlled by your emotions. But a bit hug always comforts you!

How Do You Communicate?

You Are 37% Sexy

Your Sex Appeal Is: Average You're about as sexy as the average person on the street. There's no secret to gaining more sex appeal - you just need to be a bit bolder!

How Much Sex Appeal Do You Have?

You Don't Hold a Grudge

You're willing to give almost anyone a second chance, even if they've really wronged you. Incredibly forgiving and compassionate, you understand that people sometimes change for the better.

Do You Hold a Grudge?

You Are Indigo

Of all the shades of blue, you are the most funky, unique, and independent. Expressing yourself and taking a leap of faith has always been easy for you.

What Color Blue Are You?

Your 1996 Theme Song Is: Ironic by Alanis Morisette

It's like rain on your wedding day It's a free ride when you've already paid It's the good advice that you just didn't take Who would've thought ... it figures

What's Your 1996 Theme Song?

Your Movie Buff Quotient: 48%

You are well on your way to becoming a movie buff. You've seen many of the great films, and you have even probably developed an expertise in a few genres.

Are You a Movie Buff?

Your Preppy Name Is...

Stockton Danforth Corcoran the Third But most people know you as Babs

What's Your Preppy Name?

Blog tool as post

Muppet Heads

I wrote this article for the Windy City Knitting Guild newsletter and figured that I may as well put it up here too.

*******************************************

At Childrens’ Hospital Boston, which treats kids from all over the world, there is a ward of 10-16 year olds who are undergoing radiation and chemo for cancer who need hats. We’ve all heard about people needing chemo caps before, but this is different. These kids don’t just want hats. They want fun fur. Yes, FUN FUR hats. All of them, girls, boys, teens, pre-teens, want fun fur hats, to wear as their fake “hair”.

A knitter in Boston is organizing a drive for fun fur hats for these kids. The hats are due to her by February 28, 2007, and there will be prizes donated from all over (yarn, stitch markers, more yarn) to people who send in hats. The response has been overwhelming, and I myself have decided to knit at least 10 of these hats. (I bought 10 balls, and they had better not be in my house on March 1!) For more information, go to:
http://minisoup.blogspot.com/2007/01/contest-and-childrens-hospital.html

The kids also like beanie-type hats, as long as they are very soft, since everyday isn’t a Muppet day. If you want to join in the fun, but don’t want to knit with fun fur, you are still welcome.

At the February Guild meeting, I will collect any hats that you have knit and would like me to send with my own. You can also go to the Minestrone Soup blog and get the details to send in your own fun fur hats. Mini will send you some hat patterns, and her mailing address. Having read through the patterns, to figure out the basics for this yarn, here is what I am doing:

Materials: 1 ball of fun fur-type yarn
Needles: Size 9, 16” circular needle
NOTE: I am a very loose knitter, most patterns (and the ball bands) call for a US 10.5 needle or larger. Use your best judgment.
Notions/Tools: darning needle, stitch marker
Gauge: I have no idea, there is no way to measure it with the fun fur, but my hats fit my head.

The pattern:
Cast on 60 stitches loosely. Join in the round, being careful not to twist. Place marker to locate the beginning of the round. Knit around, in stockinette, for 6½”. Your knitting will not curl at the bottom due to the weight of the “fur”.

When you have knit for 6½”, decrease to your liking or as follows:
Row 1: *Knit 8, k2tog*, repeat from * to * 6 times
Row 2: knit around
Row 3: *knit 7, k2tog*, repeat from * to * 6 times
Row 4: knit around
Row 5: *knit 6, k2tog*, repeat from * to * 6 times.
Row 6: knit around
Row 7: *knit 5, k2tog*, repeat from * to * 6 times.
Row 8: knit around
Row 9: *knit 4, k2tog*, repeat from * to * 6 times.
Row 10: knit around
Row 11: *knit 3, k2tog*, repeat from * to * 6 times.
Row 12: *knit 2, k2tog*, repeat from * to * 6 times.
Row 13: *knit 1, k2tog*, repeat from * to * 6 times.
Row 14: k2tog around
Cut yarn, use darning needle to run yarn tail through all stitches twice.
Weave in both ends on the inside.

Celebrity Writings

I emailed Schoolhouse Press about some books yesterday. Today, Meg Swansen, the Meg Swansen, emailed me back. She was nice, informative, and so normal. It makes me want to call and have her answer the phone, like she did for Stephanie Pearl-McPhee.

How green is your school?

How green is your school? Here is how mine stack up: (warning, grades link to PDF documents)

Fall 1998-Spring 1999: University of Minnesota, B-
Fall 2000-Spring 2003, Fall 2004: Carnegie Mellon University, C+
Fall 2003-Spring 2004: Yale University, B+

The word university in each line links to the main school page, the name of the school links to the program/department that I was in. The grades are how the schools' endowments do on environmental sustainability issues, not what my GPA was.